News + Trends
Exerbell: the water kettlebell
by Patrick Bardelli
Functional fitness with Exerbell – the foldable kettlebell
5/7/2021
Translation: Jessica Johnson-Ferguson
Take a bag, some water or sand, and there you have it: Exerbell, your mobile fitness tool. It makes functional workouts at home, outside or on the go more manageable.
Our Community members were quick to have an opinion about the product and shared it in the comments field. The vibe overall: «unnecessary, too expensive, something the world doesn’t need.» What had happened? A Zurich-based fitness trainer had come up with an idea that was as simple as it was clever: to fill a bag with water or sand. I reported on this back in February.
Workouts on the go
How do I keep fit on holidays? It’s a question I ask myself every summer. This year, I’m off to the mountains in the Engadine. I’ll be taking my bike and, recently, also my Exerbell. While transporting my bike by train and bus is a bit of a logistical challenge, the empty Exerbell easily fits into my suitcase. And takes up about as much space as my toilet bag.
Water or sand
You fill the Exerbell either with water or sand. On the inside there are weight markings from two to a maximum of 14 kilogrammes. I go for water, as the days when I played in a sandbox with my daughter are over. In other words, I don’t have any sand at hand.
What’s more, the moving water creates instability. This makes simple exercises, such as the Russian twist or reverse lunges, physically more challenging. The Exerbell’s leak protection is designed to ensure a leak-free workout even indoors.
Beautiful on the inside and out
The outer layer of the bag is made of PVC with recycled PET fabric. The inside is made of PVC, the handle is a mixture of cotton linen polyester. If the looks of your fitness equipment are important to you, you won’t be disappointed. What’s important is that you wipe your bag dry with a towel after every workout. Otherwise there’s a risk of it becoming musty. Whether the Exerbell will still be watertight in two or three years remains to be seen.
First impressions
«Unnecessary, too expensive, something the world doesn’t need»... the Community may have been a bit too hasty with its verdict. Personally, I find the Exerbell a pretty clever piece of fitness equipment. Especially for travelling, I think it will be a handy companion for me. It doesn’t take up much space and is ready for use in no time. What’s more, a classic cast-iron kettlebell can easily scratch or dent floors and walls. And let’s be honest. Who’s going to feel like shlepping a big lump of metal around on their holidays?
Is the Exerbell expensive? At the end of the day, this depends on your idea of value. Personally, I’ve spent money on more superfluous things. If you exclusively work out in the gym, you won’t need this piece of equipment. However, if you’d like to get some exercise in at home or on the go, the Exerbell is a great alternative to your classic cast-iron kettlebell.
Patrick Bardelli
Senior Editor
Patrick.Bardelli@digitecgalaxus.chFrom radio journalist to product tester and storyteller, jogger to gravel bike novice and fitness enthusiast with barbells and dumbbells. I'm excited to see where the journey'll take me next.